Animal-muzzle.



No. 682,036.' I Patented Sept. 3, IBM.

G. HGOO'LEY. ANIMAL MUZZLE,

(Application filed. Jan. 17, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

GEORGE P. COOLEY, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

ANIMAL-M UZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 682,036, dated September 3, 1901.

Application filed January 17, 1901. Serial No. 43,630. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that-I, GEORGE P. GOOLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Wyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Animal Muzzles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to animal muzzles, and more particularly to that class which are constructed with a view of weaning calves and colts and preventing cows from sucking themselves.

It consists in a muzzle proper, which is advantageous in that it is strong and durable and is calculated to securely hold and inclose the mouth of a calf or colt when the head is raised, so as to effectually prevent the calf or colt from nursing, and yet when the head is placed to the ground is adapted to automatically assume such a position as to enable the galf or colt to graze and eat with perfect free- When my improved muzzle is properly secured on a cows head through the medium of a halter, it will enable the cow to freely graze and eat,and yet will effectually prevent her from sucking herself when she lies down for such purpose.

With the foregoing in mind the invention will befully understood from the following description and claims when taken in con junction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a View illustrating 1n y improved muzzle proper in longitudinal central section and my improved halter in perspective. Fig. 2 is a detail transverse section, on a slightlyenlarged scale, taken in the plane indicated by the broken line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken in the plane indicated by the broken line 3 3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by arrow, with one of the hangers partly broken away; and Fig. 4: is a perspective View of the frame of the muzzle proper, with one of the hangers partly broken away.

In the said drawings similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the several views, referring to which, A is the head-bow of the frame of the muzzle proper, which is preferably oval in form.

B B are the side bars of the frame, which are of approximate U shape and are conneoted at their ends to the sides and forward portion of the bow A by being bent around the same, as shown, or in any other preferred manner.

C D are uprightU-shaped braces which are suitably connected at their ends to the bow A and at intermediate points of their length to the lower portions of the side bars B.

E is a diagonal U-shaped brace which is connected at its ends to the bow A and at intermediate points of its length to the lower portions of the side bars 13.

F is a rectangular brace which is disposed horizontally a slight distance above the lower portions of the side bars B and is connected at its ends to one of the upright portions of the brace O and at intermediate points of its length to the braces D E, the forwaad portions of the side bars B, and the other upright portion of the brace O.

G is a horizontal U-shaped brace which is connected at its ends to the upright portions of the brace C and at intermediate points of its length to the upright portions of the braces D E and the forward portions of the side bars to afford a bulge at its forward end to receive the mouth of a calf, colt, orcow, and is formed of heavy wire. Said frame is covered, as shown, with a meshwork I of lighter wire, this with a view of preventing a calf, colt, or cow from projecting its tongue out of the muzzle.

' As best shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, that portion of the bar H intermediate of the lower portion of the brace C and brace E is bent away from the frame of the muzzle, so as to afford a depending projection. This projection serves when the animal places its head to the ground to tilt the muzzle, so as to enable the animal to pass its mouth rear- 'weaner, so when the animal puts its head down to graze or eat the mouth will pass down through the back opening, and when the animal raises its head to nurse the muzzle will automatically assume a position over the nose and mouth and effectually prevent such operation, and this without liability of the mother beingcut or otherwise injured.

In order to effectually prevent a calf or colt from working its nose and month back through the rear opening of the muzzle when its head is raised, the transverse flange J, afforded by the rear transverse portion of the rectangular brace F, the lower portion of the brace C, and the wire meshwork, is provided. Such flange, when the animals head is raised, will not only prevent the passage of the nose and mouth through the back opening of the muzzle, but will also prevent the animal from projecting its tongue through said opening.

I prefer in practice to employ the braces C, D, E, and Gin the frame of my improved muzzle,since they contribute materially to the rigidity and strength of the same. I do not desire, however, to be understood as confining myself to the use of the braces D,E,and G, as in some cases they may be dispensed with; nor do I desire to be understood as confining myself to arranging the meshwork of wires between the lower portion of the brace O and the rear portion of the rectangular brace F,

as, when desired, the said rear transverse portion of the rectangular brace may alone be depended on to prevent the calf or colt from working its nose and month back through the rear opening of the muzzle when the same is held in a raised position.

K K are hangers connected to the sides of the bow A at about the points shown and having eyes a at their upper ends, and L is the halter, through the medium of which the muzzle is secured in its operative position on the head of a calf, colt, or cow. This halter may be made of chain, leather, or other materials suitable to the purpose. I prefer, however, to make it of rope and have it comprise a headstall b, the ends of which are passed through the eyes of the hangers K and provided with knots c, a throat-latch d, which has a loop eat one end and rings f, which surround the loop e and the middle of the headstall b and connect the same, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The rings f are preferably of metal, as is also the jaw-strap g. The jaw-strap is preferably made up of a chain h, which is connected to the rear end of the muzzle-bow A, and a snap-hook '5,

which has an eye receiving the throat-latch and is arranged to engage the chain after the manner shown in Fig. 1.

In applying my improved muzzle to an animal the muzzle is placed so that there is about one inch play-space between its bottom and the nose of the animal, and the halter is placed with the middle of the headstall b and the loop 6 of the throat-latch (Z on the animals head immediately behind the ears. The throat-latch is then passed beneath the throat of the animal and its free end is tied into the bight of the loop 6. With this done, the jawstrap is properly adjusted, when the device is ready for use.

While I prefer, as stated, to make the halter L of rope,I desire it distinctly understood that it may be made of any othersuitable material, provided the throat-latch is connected to the middle of the headstall and such point of connection is arranged so as to rest on the animals head immediatelyin rear of the ears, for by virtue of this and the jaw-strap interposed between t-he throat-latch and the bow A the calf, colt, or cow is effectually prevented from scratching or rubbing oi the muzzle. Moreover, by virtue of the ends of the headstall b resting loose in the eyes a of the hangers K, it will be seen that the muzzle is free to swing on the headstall for the purposes be fore described. The adjustable jaw-strap is adapted to be used toadvantage in adjusting and securing the muzzle on the heads of calves and colts.

When the muzzle is used on a cow with a view of preventing her from sucking herself and the halter is properly adjusted, the cow is enabled to graze and eat with perfect freedom, and yet is effectually prevented from sucking herself when she lies down for such purpose.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination of a halter, and an animal-muzzle pivotally connected to the halter, and comprising the frame made up of the oval head-bow, the side bars connected at their ends to the bow and depending therefrom, the U-shaped brace connected at its ends to the sides of the bow, and at intermediate points of its length to the lower portions of the side bars and forming the rear open end of the frame, and a transverse bar arranged in a plane above the lower portion of the U-shaped brace and connected to the upright portions of said brace, and wire meshwork arranged on and connected to the frame.

2. The combination of a halter, and an animal-muzzle, pivotally connected to the halter and comprising a frame open at its rear end, and having a transverse bar extending across the rear opening in a plane slightly above the bottom of said opening, and wire meshwork connected to said frame.

3. The combination of a halter, and an animal-muzzle pivotally connected to the halter,

IIO

ward stretch curved forwardly and its rear stretch disposed in a plane above the bottom of the frame, and wire meshwork connected to the frame.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE P. OOOLEY.

Witnesses:

THOMAS E. TURPIN, NELLIE C. HEALY. 

